Competition Update: As at 22 July 2020
We made it - swim meets are back!
All club events, i.e. activities including but not limited to, training, combined training, club nights, time trials, dual meets, championships, are permissible when complying with the approved Swimming Pool & Aquatic Centre Industry COVID Safe Plan Stage 3. It is the responsibility of the event organiser to be primarily responsible for staging a COVID-safe event with the key principles and public health strategies implemented and monitored. All attendees have a level of responsibility for their own welfare, as well as that of others around them by following the instructions and restrictions in place when attending events. This includes providing contact details, assuring they are well and practicing good hygiene.
As such, there are going to be differences in how events have been conducted in the past and it is important to read and understand all information provided to ensure the safety of all members and continual resumption of our sport.
Want to host an event? To ensure compliance, ask these questions:
- Have you read and understood the SQ COVID-19 Club Activity/Meet Guidelines?
- Have you confirmed with your venue/facility if there are any considerations required outside of and/or on top of compliance with the Swimming Pool & Aquatic Centre Industry COVID Safe Plan?
- Have you looked into the venue/facility capacity and considered the ability to comply with capacity limits, group management, contact tracing, event flow, physical distancing, cleaning & hygiene requirements for the event you are looking to run?
- Have you worked through the Checklist (p. 8-15) of the Swimming Pool & Aquatic Centre Industry COVID Safe Plan, in conjunction with your venue where relevant?
- Have you completed the Industry Plan Checklist, signed and saved a copy, including your event map, Statement of Compliance and other event-relevant information, with the ability to produce it if/when asked by a compliance/enforcement officer?
Want to attend an event?
In order to comply with Queensland Government regulations for the running of COVID Safe events, all attendees, including coaches, managers, officials, volunteers, spectators and swimmers, must read, understand and agree to comply with the documents below, prior to nominating and/or attending an event.
If you have any questions related to this update, please email Jade Edmistone.
Previous Updates
- 18 June 2020
- Clubs within each Region window of opportunity to host Transition and Preparation Meets during the period of 15-30 August, 2020
- SQ Speedo SC Preparation Meet 29-30 August, 2020
- Regional SC Championships window of opportunity between 29 August and 13 September
- SQ McDonald’s Queensland SC Championships 25-27 September, 2020
- LC Prep Meet #1, 10-11 October, 2020
- McDonald’s Queensland Open Water Championships, 17 October, 2020
- Medal Shots LC Prep Meet #2, 14-15 November, 2020
- McDonald’s Queensland Championships, 12-18 December, 2020
- 22 May 2020
- 16 March 2020
- 2020 Speedo National Preparation Meet & Jess Schipper Challenge cancelled;
- Awaiting further advice from Swimming Australia regarding the status of the State Based Age Challenge;
- Direct all queries relating to Queensland School Sport Swimming State Championships to Queensland School Sport;
- Direct all queries relating to cancellation of Hancock Prospecting Australian Age Swimming Championships and Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships to Swimming Australia.
With Queensland Government set to move to Stage 3 from July 11 and likelihood of the approved Swimming Pool & Aquatic Centre Industry Plan to include eased restrictions that allow for modified club nights and competitions, Swimming Queensland feel it is now appropriate to provide an update to the 2020 competition calendar.
Below is an outline of the proposed event dates for SQ and windows of opportunity for Region and Club level competitions. Please note, all dates are subject to government restrictions and based on the assumption there is a continuation in the easing of restrictions that will allow for this to proceed. It is important for each Club and Region to make decisions based on their individual circumstances.
Proposed Swimming Queensland Short Course Season
This is a suggested date range to get continuity across the State and only applicable where a Region would usually hold such an event.
Swimming Queensland Long Course Season (as per original dates published)
Please note, this event will not be held at Lake Kawana. Location will be determined closer to the date. It will include 2.5km for 12 years & over and 5km for 13 years & over only.
It is important to reiterate that the above proposed dates are subject to restrictions being favourable to allow them to proceed. Further, for Clubs and Regions the dates above form guidelines and it will be up to each Club and Region to decide, based on their individual circumstances, what dates will be determined for any meets that go ahead.
Swimming Queensland Coach Development Director, Drew McGregor, hosted an information session to help members understand the planned changes on Wednesday, 24 June at 11:00AM. This session focused on the amended short course meet dates and development activities and was open to all coaches, athletes, parent and committee members.
Watch the recorded Information Session here.
View the slides from the Information Session here.
If you have any questions related to this update and information session, please email Jade Edmistone.
Swimming Queensland has decided to postpone the Queensland SC Preparation Meet and SC Championships. At this time, it is not known when the Queensland Government will increase the maximum number of people permitted to gather from the limit of 100 due to be implemented in Stage 3, effective from 10 July. Once this is known, SQ will be able to set dates and inform clubs and members.
Swimming Queensland wishes to advise that in accordance with the recent government guidelines in relation to COVID-19 restricting gatherings of more than 500 people, the 2020 Speedo National Preparation Meet & Jess Schipper Challenge have been cancelled.
Nomination fee refunds will be issued with no action required by individual members in Swim Central. Online ticket & program purchase refunds will also be processed automatically. Please allow up to 10 business days for these refunds to be received.
In light of the cancellation of the Jess Schipper Challenge and other events across the country, we expect to hear further from Swimming Australia regarding the status of the State Based National Age Challenge.
Understanding this situation is moving quickly and constantly evolving, we will continue to refer to the advice from relevant authorities as well as follow government guidelines as they unfold. We encourage our Affiliated Clubs to be acting in accordance with the advice, with each event to be considered in this same manner.
We acknowledge the Queensland School Sport Swimming State Championships are due to start on March, 23 and note that any decision made regarding this event will be at the discretion of Queensland School Sport; please direct all queries relating to this event directly to them.
In relation to the recent cancellation of Hancock Prospecting Australian Age Swimming Championships and Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships in Perth in April, we understand the disappointment of the swimmers, coaches and families affected. Swimming Australia have advised that nomination fees and club staff packs purchased will be automatically refunded. Please allow up to 10 business days for these refunds to be received. While the announcement refers to the meets being cancelled, if you do have any questions about the prospect of these meets being rescheduled, or any other queries in relation to these events, please direct these to Swimming Australia.
For those who had airline bookings, we note that some airlines have recently announced new cancellation and credit policies due to the virus and encourage you to contact the relevant airline for further information.
Swimming Queensland will continue to closely monitor this complex situation and advise any further changes as they occur.
IN SUMMARY
